Saturday 30 October 2010

How to Look After Pets During Fireworks

How to Look After Pets During Fireworks

Bang! Fireworks can upset pets in many ways.Eighty percent of pet
owners have owned a pet afraid of fireworks.[1] Do you constantly
worry about your pets during firework displays close to your home?
Do you fear you may come home to find that your pets are unhappy
or, even worse, dead because of the extremely loud noises? If you
can't ask for quieter fireworks, you will have to do the best you
can to comfort your pet. Here are the ways to keep your pet safe
and cared for during fireworks.

!! Steps !!

Know when fireworks will be happening and how
they'll impact your home. Contact your local
municipality to find out when your area is
likely to have fireworks. Mark the dates on a
calendar so that you can keep track of when to
ensure your pets are cared for. If you know or
suspect that the fireworks will be heard at your
house, take the precautions outlined in the
following steps.

* Check that your pets' ID tags and microchips are in date; mark the
calendar when renewal payments are due and be sure to make the
payments. If your pet does go running off during fireworks events,
it's much easier to be able to identify its ownership with these
features.

* Fireworks upset pets as a result of the noise, smell of sulfur,
and flashing lights.[2]

Prepare the house. The house becomes your pets'
safety zone, so it's important to prepare it
properly.

* Keep some lights on. Keeping a light on will calm your pet and
make him feel more secure, rather than being scared in a dark
room.

* Dampen the noise. Close the curtains in the room and, if your
animal is a caged one, cover up the cage in a thick blanket, but
make sure it is breathable so your animal doesn't suffocate. This
will also help to stop the flashes of light affecting your pet.

* Plan to use familiar noise to drown out the fireworks noise with
stereo music or the TV, or other sounds that are more familiar for
your pet. Just make sure not to play these noises ridiculously
loud.

Provide suitable sleeping spotsPrepare the room. Select a
suitable room where you will contain the pets for the duration
of the fireworks. An inner room that is least impacted by the
noise is ideal. It should be a room that you can close off to
prevent your pet from running about the house and injuring
itself, wrecking furniture, etc. If you have more than one pet,
be sure they don't mind being confined in the same room, or
select several rooms for different pets. For example, dogs and
cats will usually appreciate being kept separate.

* Make the room cozy. Put down familiar, clean bedding somewhere
pleasant such as under a table, on or behind a chair, etc. Add
some familiar chew toys, scratch pads, balls, etc., to keep your
pets amused and distracted.

* Ensure that the room temperature is pleasant; warm if it's cold
weather, or cool if it's hot weather.

* Consider whether sound might be soothing. If your pet is used to
music, turn some on at normal volume. Also, the sound of rainwater
is very soothing to pets.

* Use lavender. This is optional, but you might like to use lavender
scented items to help calm your pet. Use a spray or gently bruise
the leaves and flowers of some fresh plants. Just make sure that
it's out of reach of your pet. Using heated scent oils or incense
is *not* recommended as a frantic pet can knock them over and
start a fire or injure themselves.

* Add a litter tray for cats.

* Remove any sharp items from the room in case your pet starts
jumping or running around.

Keep your own worry under controlPrepare yourself. In the desire
to ease our pet's pain, sometimes we can transfer some of our
anxiety and upset to the pet. If you've prepared properly in
advance, there is no need to feel upset and worried as you can
be reassured about the safety of your pet.

* Realize that the startled and frantic reactions of your pet are
often the principal source of your own upset.[3] Being ready for
their reactions can help to keep you calm as well.

Confine your pet. Half an hour to an hour
before the fireworks are due to be set off,
place your pet into the chosen room. If you're
concerned about not being able to locate your
pet (for example, cats aren't always easy to
find), consider finding your pet several hours
earlier. Mealtime is a good time to round up
every pet, provided it falls before the
fireworks are set off. If your dog needs a
walk, be sure to walk her before confining her.

* Even if your pet is caged, place it into the secure and
comfortable room you've selected.

* If your pet is a horse or other farm animal, make sure it has
clean bedding and is inside the stable or barn.

* Provide food and hydration. Be sure to leave
sufficient water and food for your pet in the confinement space.
Many pets will be uneasy, or even frantic. If your pet has access
to water, it will help calm him, and food supplied in your pet's
regular portion will make him feel like it's a normal day.
Keep an eye on your pet, and if possible, stay
with her. Comfort her and talk to her. Be
friendly but don't fuss over her too much; this
can increase her anxiety if she picks up on
yours and can reward and encourage fearful
behavior.[4] If it's not possible to stay with
her, (perhaps because you're out or busy (you
may be at the firework display), don't worry -
the previous steps should ensure that your pet
has been adequately cared for.

* Allow your pet to hide somewhere in the room if wished. It's your
pet's way of coping (a "bolthole")[5] and dragging them out of a
safe spot can increase their anxiety levels. Don't fuss over her
too much.

Check on your pet after the fireworks. Reassure
him and remove the protection (blankets, etc.)
as long as you're sure that the loud fireworks
are over. Let him have free run of the house to
see how he behaves before considering letting
him return outside (it might be best to wait
until morning, if possible). Check for signs of
stress in your pet:[6]

* For cats, signs of stress include running away, soiling the house,
hiding away and refusing to eat.

* For dogs, signs of stress include barking a lot, running away,
soiling the house, hiding and cowering, clinging to owners,
whimpering, trembling and shaking, pacing and panting, and
refusing to eat.

* If your pet is stressed, keep him indoors overnight. Keep a litter
tray somewhere in the house, or walk a dog after the fireworks but
don't let him off his harness and be sure to stay with him the
whole time.

* Do a yard sweep before letting your pets back
outside. Collect any sparklers, firecrackers, etc., as well as
party items and broken objects. This will prevent your pet from
being injured by unfamiliar objects.

!! Video !!

!! Tips !!

* Act normally and calmly around your pet. Giving off nervous vibes
will not help.

* Vets can prescribe mild sedatives or tranquilizing drugs but some
require administering weeks in advance.[7] Horses and dogs may
require sedation.[8] Any medication should be given on the advice
of your vet only.

* Sensitivity to noise can increase as pets age.[9]

* If your pet is litter or pee pad trained, place those items in
there; it's not a good idea to let your pet pee everywhere!

* See your vet if your pet doesn't seem to have recovered after the
event.

* Desensitization techniques might help your pet feel less anxious
around loud noises, such as using CDs of fireworks, trains,
thunder, etc., starting soft and gradually increasing the
volume.[10] This should be done with your vet's advice only.

* Adding cotton wool to your dog's ears can help to muffle the sound
if your dog will allow you to do this.[11]

* The tips provided in this article can also apply in the case of
other noisy events, such as traffic parades, storms (thunder),
large crowds of people near your house, etc.

!! Warnings !!

* Lock your doors and close your windows if you're not going to be
home. Pets can be stolen during firework displays if they're left
outside of there is easy access to an unlocked house.

* Avoid taking your pets to a fireworks event.

* Don't leave a pet outside, as it will be incredibly loud out
there. Don't even leave your dog tethered and outdoors; your dog
has nowhere to go and will find the combination of the noise and
restraint terrifying.

* *Never* let off fireworks next to or near your pet.

* Be careful about what you put in the room if you are going to be
leaving the pet alone in there. Don't put a fire on to keep them
warm, as it is a hazard. Also, don't put any sharp objects or
things that could hurt the pet in there.

* Make sure there is nothing valuable in the room if your pet is
likely to break/damage it when scared.

* If you give your pet a new toy or chew bone, make sure it's
"indestructible" so that your pet doesn't choke on little pieces
while you are gone.

* Never punish a pet for its reaction to fireworks; not only this
wrong but it will reinforce the fear.

!! Things You\'ll Need !!

* Inner room

* Food and water

* Bedding

* Toys

* Shutters, curtains, etc., to muffle noise

* TV, stereo noise (if appropriate)

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Photograph Fireworks

* How to Be Safe With Fireworks

* How to Set up a Fireworks Show

* How to Introduce New Pets

* How to Keep Pets off of the Furniture

* How to Be Nice to Your Pets

!! Sources And Citations !!

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

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